Why Real Madrid handing Casemiro a new contract is the right decision
According to a report from Spanish publication MARCA (h/t Daily Mail), Real Madrid have handed Brazilian midfielder Casemiro a new contract, extending his stay at the club till the summer of 2023.
Casemiro started out at the academy of Brazilian club Sao Paulo. He made 66 first-team appearances for the side, scoring 6 goals and assisting 8, before moving to Real Madrid Castilla on loan in January 2013. The following summer, his transfer was made permanent, with the midfielder linking with the Real Madrid first-team.
After a loan spell at FC Porto in 2014/15, the Brazilian has grown into a pivotal member of Real Madrid. Till date, he has accumulated 229 appearances for Los Blancos, scoring 22 goals and assisting 17.
Real Madrid, meanwhile, have had a solid 2019/20 campaign. They are sitting second in the La Liga table – just two points below leaders Barcelona. However, the Merengues have had spells of inconsistencies, as indicated by their exit from the Copa del Rey. They are also staring at the possibility of exiting the UEFA Champions League.
Casemiro a key cog in Zidane’s Real Madrid
Given their missteps over the course of the campaign, Real Madrid need to keep hold of their best players in the current roster and add more quality to the squad. Extending Casemiro’s contract, to that end, is a step in the right direction by the Real Madrid.
Casemiro played an integral role in Real Madrid’s hat-trick of Champions League triumphs between 2015/16 and 2017/18 under Zinedine Zidane. He missed just seven of their 39 UCL clashes in these three seasons combined.
In addition, he has also helped the club win a La Liga title, two UEFA Super Cups, three FIFA Club World Cups. He was also a part of the squad that won the Champions League in 2013/14 under Carlo Ancelotti.
In the ongoing season, Casemiro has featured in 35 matches across all competitions, scoring and assisting four goals apiece. The fact that he has missed just two La Liga matches over the course of the campaign highlights his importance to the side. Furthermore, Real Madrid do not have any other defensive midfielder in the squad apart from the Brazilian international.
A key cog in the midfield engine room, Casemiro is a near-indispensable figure at the Santiago Bernabeu. Hence, handing him a new contract is a smart move by the club.
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Verdict
Casemiro is without a doubt one of the most important players in the Real Madrid squad. The Brazilian has been an integral part of the club’s recent success under Zidane and at 28, is in the peak years of his career. Hence, extending his contract is the right move by the Spanish heavyweights.
